Crown; that fo the Church and the King, or in more modern Phrase,the Cry of Church and Queen might on every Occafion, carry all before them.

But when this Scheme became impracticable, and a Prince was on the Throne that they could not engage in their Designs, then they as heartily joyn'd together against him: Favour'd as much as they could, the Title of Another: Harangued against the Lawfulness of taking the Oaths to any but the right Heir; meaning, him whom they fhould be pleas'd to call fo. Tho' at the fame Time, the leading Men are to take the Oaths themselves, with a double Intention; to ferve their own Interest by the Profit of their Places, and by their Power within Doors to hearten and keep alive the Projects of their Affociates without.

The fame Men concurred likewife to undermine fuch a Government, by artfully applying to it the Distinction between a King de Facto and de Jure. By which means they continued a Declaration against the lawful Right of the Prince in Poffeffion; and did the Government as much Mischief, and in fome Refpects more, than if they had abfolutely refused to submit, or take the Oaths to it at all.

There is one thing more, and that one of their most darling Methods, in which they were heartily united; to raise as far as poffible the Enmity and Hatred of the Church and Nation against thofe, who of Old were called Puritans, of late more commonly Presbyterians. They have ever been induftrious to fix all manner of Calumny and Reproach upon them, to render them incapable of ferving their Country, or having any Power to act a

gainst Them: Well knowing, and upon fome Occafions owning, they could not effectually compass their Designs till thefe Men were removed out of their Way. It was obferv'd long fince by the renown'd Sir Robert Cotton, until the Eleventh Year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, a Recufant's Name was fcarcely known. "The Reason was, becaufe that the Zeal begotten in the Time of the Marian Perfecution "was yet fresh in Memory. In thofe Days "there was an Emulation between the Clergy "and the Laity, and a Strife arose whether of "them fhould fhew themselves moft affectio"nate to the Gofpel-But when they faw "their great Coryphæus Sanders had flily pinn'd "the Names of Puritans on the Sleeves of the "Proteftants that encountred them with most

Courage, and perceiv'd that the Word was pleafing to fome of our own fide, they "took Heart at Grafs, to fet little by the Ser"vice of God and Duty to their Sovereign."

'Tis however obfervable, that many of these Plots have met with that Fate that is common: For few Plots have been wholly fuccessful without Difcovery and Disappointment in fome Part or other, the Methods of Discovery and Prevention are fo various and remarkable.

They are often difcovered by the ordinary Methods of good Policy, a skilful Management and Dexterity in Affairs. Wife and watchful Governours have quick Eyes as well as long Arms. They can have Intelligence from priwate Corners, as well as publick Courts: find ways to mingle with all Cabals, and dive in

to the deepeft Secrets: Thus Queen Elizabeth's wife Minifter, Sir Francis Walfingham, got into the grand Secret of the Spanish Invafion, and procured his Information by an original Let ter out of the Pope's own Pocket: It feems the King of Spain, from an officious Zeal for the Pope's Bleffing on his Undertaking, had, by a Letter writ with his own Hand, acquainted him with the true Intention of his great Preparations: But the induftrious English Mini fter fo far turn'd it into a Curfe, as to blaft the whole Contrivance to enflave us, and reduce.b. the exorbitant Power of that Family, fo dangerous to the whole Proteftant Caufe, and the Liberty of their Neighbours: By the Vigi lance of the same wife Minifter, in the Reign la of James I. he procured a Box out of the Spanifh Ambaffador's Closet, which contain'd all his fecret Inftructions: The many good Effects of fuch private Intelligence in the late War, are referv'd for a fuller Hiftory of thofe Times:

Nor are Courage and Bravery in a Government lefs confiderable to prevent the Effects of Plots, than a skilful and vigilant Policy is to detect them. When a Senfe of Liberty and Zeal for True Religion, infpires a brave People with Spirit and Courage, all the Force of a blind Zeal and flavifh Spirit, has never been able to stand against it. To omit all remoter Examples, we have a fufficient Evidence of this, in the fuccefsful Defence of our Liberties under the glorious King William, and the many victorious Years of the late Queen.

Sometimes the Confpirators them felves are Inftruments in the Discovery of their own Plots. The Horror of an inhuman Fa& has terrify'd

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terrify'd a guilty Mind. The Tenderness of human Nature, fome Leavings of Confcience and Gratitude, the frightful Senfe of involving innocent Perfons in Ruin, and one's native Country in Blood and Defolation, have fometimes given a fhock to Mens Minds, and rais'd an inward Remorfe. The Affaffination Plot in King William's Reign, was discover'd by Mr. Pendergrafs, who was ftruck with Horror at the firft Propofal of it, and from that Moment, refolv'd to make the Discovery. And a Soldier lifted in the Pretender's Service, was among the first Discoverers of the late Rebellion.

A Discovery and Prevention of Plots are often owing to the weak Conduct of the Plotters, and the wrong Measures they enter into. Cataline's Confpiracy was one of the most desperate ever known in the Roman State. A, difgufted Part of the Nobility, many broken Officers, joyned to others of profligate Lives and ruin'd Fortunes, united under a crafty and daring Head, to overturn the Government: But this formidable Confpiracy came to the Knowledge of the Conful Cicero, by the childish Imprudence of Q. Curius, one of the Plotters, who trufted the Secret to his Mistress Fulvia. Envy, Jealoufy, or Treachery, fometimes make the Confpirators false to the Defign, or to each other. Men who are wicked enough (from Pique, Ambition, or Hope of Advantage from publick Troubles) to confpire against their native Country and lawful Governors, may well be fuppofed falfe enough to their Companions, to betray them for the fame Reafons.

And very often these secret Works of Dark

nels

ness have been brought to light by fome Act of a kind Providence. A fmall Incident, an undefign'd Step, a little Weakness or Overfight have been over-rul'd to break a well-concerted Scheme of Mischief. The Mifcarriage of a Letter and the Miftake of a Name, are confiderable Circumftances in the Hiftory of the Net Powder-Plot. The open Plots against the Religion and Liberties of England in the Reign of James II. was ruin'd by an indiscreet Hafte, and over-forward Zeal to make it fure. As a great Man* obferv'd on this Occafion," The very "Counfels and Methods of our Enemies did "propofe the way for our Deliverance, and per"haps more effectually than any Counsel or "Contrivance of our own could have done.

In fine, fuch Designs are often confounded, when they have the greatest likelihood of Succefs, and are just on the Point of execution, by taking off fome of the principal Actors, or molt powerful Supports. The manner of the King's Acceffion to the Throne, and the fubfequente Death of the late French King, were fatal Blows to the defperate Defign of bringing in the Pretender, and the Rebellion which was rais'd to promote it.

One would wonder fo many Methods of Disappointment and Discovery, fhould not cure Men of their Inclination and Fondness for Plotting. One would think, the Plotters among our felves in particular, fhould fet themselves about concerting new Measures with a very dead Heart, when they confider how often, and in what variety of Ways, their former Schemes have been discover'd and render'd Abortive: Archbishop Tillotson.

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